Damond Smith leaves programSophomore starting corner back Damond Smith has parted ways with Western Michigan. “He and coach have mutually agreed for him to leave the team,” WMU media relations director Mat Kanan said prior to Friday’s contest. Smith, who was suspended for a game this season after an in-game altercation with teammate Doug Wiggins, was replaced by true freshman Raheem Buxton. Smith’s absence was felt, as Central Michigan receiver Cody Wilson exploded for 185 yards and a touchdown on 12 catches on Buxton’s watch.

Legrier returns, records safetyWoody Legrier and Paul Hazel collapsed on Chips quarterback Ryan Radcliff with 9:30 left in the first quarter for the Broncos’ first individual safety since Zach Davidson did it Oct. 4, 2008. The Broncos also recorded a team safety last season against Indiana. The safety cut WMU’s deficit to 7-2 and was part of Legrier’s first game back since sustaining a concussion at Ball State on Oct. 9. Legrier finished with one tackle and Hazel also had a solid outing with four tackles, including brief time on the sideline with an injured right ankle.

Winchester benchedAaron Winchester sat after coughing the ball up with 9:38 left in the third quarter, his second lost fumble of the game. Redshirt freshman Brian Fields replaced Winchester for most of the remaining game, only to cough the ball up for a back-breaking turnover with 1:33 left on CMU’s 3-yard line, trailing by four. Fields tallied 71 yards on 13 carries. Relative to their previous performances this season, the Broncos had a break out game on the ground with 158 yards.

Let it snowWith 6:07 left in the first quarter, the snowflakes started to fly and continued on and off throughout the contest.

Odds and endsAlex Carder’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Juan Nunez in the third quarter gave the sophomore 21 scoring strikes on the season. He joins Tim Hiller and Tim Lester as the only Broncos to accomplish that feat. … Nunez’s 14 catches gave him his third 10-plus receptions game of the season. … Lewis Toler corralled an unforced fumble by Chips running back Zurlon Tipton early in the second quarter for his third fumble recovery of the season. … Fumbles piled up in the first quarter, WMU with two, both lost, and Central Michigan with three. There were 10 total fumbles in the game. … Attendance at a frigid Kelly/Shorts Stadium was 22,355.